7/3/1939 at Village Hall
A.R.P. Mr. Haig,the senior warden, reported that 13 people including the First Aid squad had attended a Red Cross course & all had passed the examination. That the Utility Squad were now attending an Anti-Gas course of instruction. That the Village Hall was to be the first aid point – gas proofing not being considered of paramount importance.
13/6/1939 Evacuation.
Clerk as Billeting Officer reported that in emergency 10 children & 1 helper would arrive by 2nd train on the first day & 35 children & 28 adults by the 1st train on the third day.
11/3/1940 A.R.P. Report.
Mr. Haig, senior warden, reported fully on A.R.P. matters. A total of 33 had volunteered for the various squads, most of whom had undergone special instruction & qualified. A collection had realised £4-10-0 which had defrayed the bulk of costs including adaptation of the coach house of Broomfields as a first aid station.
Mr. Haig reported however that though individuals were qualified the team work was entirely unsatisfactory & consequently the police blackout in August had in Waldringfield been a fiasco.
A fire pump had been supplied by the Deben R.D.C. together with clothing & other necessary equipment for use in air raids by the Utility Squad. Sufficient helmets for all personnel had not yet been supplied.
4/2/1941 Fire Squad
Discussion arose as to responsibility for the fire service & available assistance for operating it. The apparatus was issued to the parish council by the R.D.C. & the A.R.P. demolition & rescue squad had undertaken the service. On motion by Miss Waller & A.C.Bloomfield, Mr.A.L.Bloomfield was formally appointed leader of the council fire squad, assisted by Messrs.N.Dickerson, W.Dickerson, Brook & Parkin. Mr. Haig had arranged a fire drill for next Sat. & Mr.Nunn, as chief of the local special constables, had invited his men to attend in order that they might be able to assist with the pump. He would also prepare a chart of local water points to be posted at the depot.
19/3/1941 A.R.P. Report
The senior warden Mr. Haig reported the practice & instruction of the various squads:- Wardens, Demolition, Fire, First Aid. Specially the First Aid, & the valuable training Mrs. Wishart, who was trained & experienced, was giving, in once or twice weekly meetings & practices at the first aid point.
Jam Making:- Miss Waller, who organised last seasons communal jam making, reported that nearly 2000lbs was made, using 9.5cwt of sugar & over ½ ton of local fruits. Sale realising £57. The village hall, being now used as a canteen, will not be available for the operations as last summer. The W.I. will again organise but the venture is open to the whole village.
Fire Watchers;- Mr. Cyril Waller said that as the wardens were not out after 11pm uneasiness existed in case of fire bombs being dropped. After some discussion & several volunteering to act Messrs.Haig, Waller & Nunn agreed to call on some not yet doing A.R.P. & others & construct a rota to cover the night period as fire watchers.
15/4/1941 Gas Lecture & Test
Mr. Haig announced this for May 6th. Wardens were to canvass each house to urge attendance as knowledge of how to act may be vital at any moment.
3/6/1941 Gas Lecture & Test
Mr. Haig reported a large attendance; 99 people passing through the gas room. Several masks requiring attention.
Blackout Offence: Mr. Woodley reported that he was informed that on June 1st at 11.10pm from the Post Office corner the windows of Quietways were lit up like a palace. The R.A.F. being in occupation, the clerk was instructed to write to the C.O. of the mobile unit.
21/8/1941 Meeting of the Village Invasion Committee
Present:- Mr.E.A.Nunn(Chairman of Parish Council & Senior Special Constable)presiding. Mrs. Haig(W.V.S.) Mrs. Wishert(First Aid) Mr.Haig(Senior Warden) Mr.A.L.Bloomfield(Fire & Rescue Service) Rev.Canon Waller, Mr. Wishert, Mr.A.C.Bloomfield(Parish Food Organiser) Police Constable Clarke.
Business: chiefly consultative between those responsible for the various emergency duties, P.C.Clarke advising how problems were being met in neighbouring parishes. Emergency food arrangements were discussed at some length & the suggestion agreed to, that storage & distribution at the organisers own house would be preferable to the shops or the school. Biscuits were to be available in addition to the local bakery supply, the baker to be asked whether he could not stock dry block yeast which keeps good longer than the usual paste yeast. First Aid point advised to obtain stitching materials & morphine pills & be prepared to face delay in getting doctors or ambulance service.
4/11/1941 Invasion Committee
Now consists of Mr.E.A.Nunn(Chairman of Parish Council) Mr.Haig(Senior Warden) Rev.Canon Waller & Capt.Waller of Home Guard.
Mortuary:- the military having taken over the Old Maltings, the garage there was no longer available as emergency mortuary. An alternative was suggested in the garage at Rivers Hall if Mrs.Glossop would consent.
3/3/1942 Jam Making
In a written statement Miss G.Waller said that 995 lbs of jam was made last season which was considered good work in view of the poor fruit season. No balance sheet was presented as 300 lbs were still to sell.
10/3/1942 Parish Invasion Committee. Held at Broomstubs
Reports from Mr.E.A.Nunn as Food Organiser & Mr.Bloomfield as Fire Service
Home Guard:- Sgt.Stow reported they had now taken over defence of whole village in addition to water front. Several houses would require to be evacuated when invasion reached the vicinity. Arrangements should be made beforehand where to go. This should be done before arranging for billeting those evacuated from Kesgrave & Martlesham. Dispersal of food & destruction of any surplus was explained by food organiser.
The question of advising people to dig slit trenches & filling bomb craters in main roads was discussed. Mr.Haig, senior warden, gave details of records of men, women & children in the village. Some of the 12 men who had so far taken no definite war duties would probably soon be directed to Home Guard or other service.
Invasion Committee were now in the charge of Cecil Oakes, county clerk who had called a conference at Ipswich on Feb. 22nd. Mr.Nunn & Mr.Haig agreed to attend.
24/3/1942 Invasion Committee
Captain Lucking had been appointed as Billeting Officer.
Mortuary at Rivers Hall coach house should be inspected.
Filling of craters in roads etc. Home Guard would give orders to Invasion Committee. All able bodied persons including women & children must assist using own tools.
Invasion Committee H.Q. to be manned night & day with cycle runners available.
H.Q.’s:- Invasion Committee = Novocastria
Warden Post = Broomstubs
Police Post = Shangri-la
Home Guard = Old Maltings
Field Kitchen:- Mrs.Haig would also see to this being made in tree cover at Novocastria
31/3/1942 Parish Meeting
Major Lampriere spoke on food & likelihood of invasion. Hitler hates us most & if he beats us will wreak his greatest cruelty. All must assist defence to the utmost. Bombing will be heavy, gas follows then paratroops to get the aerodrome. Scores of gliders, each with 40/50 men. Dig slit trenches 2x2x7 long. Don’t look out of doors or windows. Lie down in back room. Fill in holes (own shovel) when ordered.
5/5/1942 Invasion Committee
Full Rehearsal. Major Lampriere had arranged for a Rushmere mobile force to stage an attack about 11a.m. next Sunday. In discussion it appeared difficult to muster full defence services on Sunday. Wednesday evening thought better. Major Lampriere was consulted by phone & agreed. So May 13th decided on 7pm-10pm
21/8/1942 Invasion Committee
Mr.E.A.Nunn, chairman, reported that he had circularised 22 villagers who had not undertaken definite war work & had secured promises of help in one or another duty from most of those who could be expected to be able. But it appeared only one or two had attended any instructional meeting. Fire, First Aid & Rest Centre officers would interview those allotted to their duty.
24/9/1942 Invasion Committee
Held at Novocastria
Non-volunteers:- those roped in for First Aid & Rest Centre it was reported had attended instruction but for Fire Guard none had attended. In the case of Wyard who had refused repeated appeals for any service, official direction, it was suggested, would be made if we applied for help to the regional authority. It was understood, however, that as he had now been accepted for the Navy his service locally would be brief.
23/3/1943 Annual Parish Meeting
Fruit Preserving Centre:- Miss Waller reported making of 409 lbs. & a few tins of fruit. 50 tons for East Suffolk from surplus fruit. Waldringfield profit was £8-8-0, divided
greater part to several good causes.
14/9/1943 Parish Council Meeting
Disbandment of Fire Squad :- Strong protest was made at the treatment of our Fire Squad & Village. The Squad consisting of 4 over age men who had zealously undergone training & were fully proficient with manual & motor pumps. Early in July they were ordered to attend training weekly at Trimley 6 miles away. No provision having been made for transport the leader offered to bring them over in his own car if petrol were allowed. This was refused. To cycle over & drill after a full days work was unreasonable & they declined to attend practice. The N.F.S. divisional office has now discharged the men & collected the apparatus & equipment leaving the village unprotected except for a few stirrup pumps. The men were to send their government service I.D. cards to the office. This the Parish Council most strongly resented as a stupid insult to honourable public spirited men. They therefore unanimously call on the R.D.C. to take all steps to have our Fire Service restored. Also to have the I.D. card insult remedied. The services of 5 capable men, by age not available for other Civil Defence services are meantime lost to the war effort.
2/11/1943 Parish Council Meeting
Fire Service :- The pump has been returned but the N.F.S. will make no provision of outfit or facilities for personnel. In case of fire we must therefore depend on an impromptu team. The Home Guard are to be informed of the position of the pump in a shed on the field opposite Alfred Tuckwells house
13/3/1944 Annual Parish Meeting
N.F.S. :- Owing to excessive ‘’Red Tape’’ our local Fire Service had ceased to exist.
14/2/1945 Parish Council Meeting
Held at Novocastria
Present:- Gwen Waller, W.J.Brett, G.Thompson, C.H.Sutton, V.Woodley, E.A.Nunn (Chair) , A.L.Bloomfield.
The chairman mentioned that as very little business had arisen since August & taking into consideration the unpleasant attentions the district had received from German Flying Bombs he had not called a council meeting until the present month when conditions were more settled.
5/3/1945 Annual Parish Meeting
Held at Village Hall
A report on the work of the Jam Centre submitted by Miss G. Waller showed 292 lbs of jam made. 100 lbs sold in village & 192 lbs to C.W.S. Ipswich.
Post Script:- If the European War should end soon, Clerk was instructed to call a Council Meeting.
5/5/1945 Parish Council Meeting
The Home Office circular No.97/1945 forwarded from R.D.C. for consideration by Parish Council before V.E. Day was proclaimed, was carefully considered.
A vote was taken as to the desirability of organising any form of celebration in the parish on that day & it was unanimously agreed that the Council should not organise any celebration. It was unanimously agreed that full support should be given to a Service to be held in Waldringfield Church on the Sunday following.
A letter was read from the rector Canon A.P. Waller in which he mentioned that he would hold a short service of Thanksgiving in Waldringfield Church on V.E. Day at 7 p.m. & in Hemley Church at 8 p.m.
